Haroshi and His Recycled Skateboard Art

Author: Abby Wilcox
Posted on: Friday May 28, 2010 at 8:00 AM
Filed under: haroshi, japanese, sculptures, mario series, screaming my hand, screaming my foot, skateboarding, skating, skateboards

Haroshi's "Screaming my hand, 2010"

Japanese artist Haroshi has found a unique medium - the thrashed and forgotten USED skateboard - which he used to pile up on the ceiling in his room. SO WHY NOT RECYCLE?

His process? He stacks multiple deck stocks into a wooden mosiac, then cuts, shaves and polishes them. The result? Jaw-dropping three-dimensional sculptures layered with vibrant color and energy.

Haroshi also hides a broken skateboard part within each sculpture (though the viewer is not able to see it); he says the part within is meant to "give soul".

Truly existential, right? Have a look at the pieces below:

"Screaming my foot, 2010" - which is part of a set of perfectly sculpted human appendages (similar to the hand above). The construction appears silky smooth and raw simultaneously, perhaps a metaphor for the human condition (or the soul).

Who can forget the classic face of Mario? Above and below, two pieces from Haroshi's "Mario Series, 2009", a new take on the iconic video game character. Who knew Mario was a thrasher???